Obviously we all LOVE working out because we physically feel SO MUCH BETTER but another reason I love to work out is because it gives me time to THINK CLEARLY and REMEMBER PAST EVENTS.

Today’s workout thoughts revolved around what delicious dessert I should make tonight, why I was only wearing one sock and WHY the heck did I sign up for my first marathon.

and then I remembered…….

IMG 3781

My bff Megan did the SLC marathon the previous year and signed up for it AGAIN and encouraged me to do it with her.  Basically I want to be just like her so of course I was going to do it.

I remember telling Billy that I wanted to run the marathon (my previous furthest distance was 13.1 and the thought of doubling that at the time made me loose consciousness) and he said awesome, you should do it.

I paid the mula 2 minutes later and next thing I knew it I found a 16 week plan and stuck to it OBSESSIVELY (I did not want to be unprepared).

I did it, loved it, wanted to do 58 marathon a year for the rest of my life and that is when the addiction started:)

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Now of course EVERYONE has different distances that they love and that work better with their schedule (hello, I have NOTHING going on from 4 p.m. until 8 a.m. everyday which allows plenty of time to train) but I wanted to know what got you to sign up for your FIRST RACE?

-Megan for my first marathon, my aunt for my first 1/2 marathon and triathlons.

What was your workout?

-20 minutes elliptical (manual, level 14), 10 minutes stair climber (fat burner, level 14) REPEAT!!!

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PS You can watch my first marathon FINISH LINE video HERE!!!!

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62 comments

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My sister invited me to run my first race with her, and sibling rivalry definitely got me off the couch to train for it! Then a year later, we had plans to run my first marathon together, but she got hurt, and I ran it for both of us instead :) I think having a training buddy definitely helps with the racing and training! 13.1 is definitely my favorite distance though, because I feel like it’s achievable to train for without the training taking over your life. Marathon training usually leaves me feeling pretty useless on the weekends. Long run + lots of food + lots of sleep :) Oh and my workout today was a 6 mile run, and now I’m headed to lunchtime yoga.

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Lunchtime yoga….I am so jealous! Seriously, training buddies are the BEST and I totally know what you mean about feeling useless on the weekends during marathon training ha…..I really love the lots of food plus lots of sleep part though:)

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Copying atheltic friends is a GREAT reason to sign up for a race :) I know a lot of people who have done half-marathons in the past 2 years and that made me really want to do one. I can’t convince myself to pay money for a 5k since I do that distance a few days a week on my lunch break at work … but a half-marathon? Great fitness goal, I can be in the cool kid club with everyone else I know who has run one, and I will get my first medal EVER for ANYTHING – good reasons ;-) and def. makes it worth the money… even tho wowzers, its a lot of money. Think of all the fro-yo we could buy if we didn’t sign up for races…. astonishing! :)

Although those are the reasons to sign up… there are reasons keeping me from signing up until I feel I’m ready. Oct 1st will be the first day in our training plan that we run 8 miles, Oct. 8th will be the second day – if I can do the full training both weeks and hit all the mileage it calls for both weeks and live past that second 8 mile run, my hubby and I will sign up.

Basically its up to me, how dedicated I am, how much I push myself in the next 3 weeks, and if my knees can take it.
We already decided tho if we can’t do it Nov. 5th then we will just keep training and do it in the Spring – not the end of the world! I have to be ready, my knees have to be ready, and we are being smart about it so I feel good about waiting.
I thought waiting would make me less dedicated but it is actually forcing me to push more during the first 1/2 of training so I can stay on schedule and actually sign up.

So for now I’ll be jealous of awesome people like you who have already run atleast a half marathon if not more, and look forward to the day I can join the cool kid club ;-)

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You are already in the cool kid club…You are the PRESIDENT! Girl, I think you are SO smart to wait to sign up until you are READY!!! Can’t wait to hear about how those first weeks in october go and you are right…there is ALWAYS spring! Good luck with your knees!

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Lol your responses always crack me up :)

Ok then… I want to be in the “cool kids who can run more than 6 miles without keeling over” club ;-)

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The very first race I ever registered for was because my ex-boyfriend was running the race. Him getting me into racing was pretty much the only good thing that came from that relationship.
I am currently training for my first half marathon. My friend had a baby in January and said she wanted to run a half marathon this year (would be her first also) and I found some training plans and told her I would do it with her. Well, she ended up flaking but I have decided I am still going to run it on my own. I am a little freaked out about doing that distance on my own, but I know if I stick to my training I can do it. Actually, today is the last day to register for the cheap registration price and I am debating if I should register so I can’t wimp out or wait until I get further in my training and make sure I can do it. Let me know what you think.

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REGISTER!!! For me at least that is what works. I am too cheap to miss a race (unless I am injured) and it is a great motivation to get the emails from the race and to know it is already paid for:) YOU CAN DO IT and I better hear all of the details! Congrats to your friend too…that will be so fun to have someone to train with. PS glad your ex was good for something:)

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I’ve yet to actually do a running event yet.. so far all I’ve done are swim meets.

But I am signed up for the Susan G. Komen 5K with my mom, my first half marathon and a sprint triathlon all within the next 3 months. The 5K is to motivate my mom and it’s a great cause, we’ve had some family friends who have passed away from breast cancer and the half marathon is to prove to myself I can do it.

I know I am going to become hooked, I’m already so excited for them.

PS. You teach my favorite high school subjects (civics, stugo, geography, aka anything with government/history). Can we just be best friends already? :D hahah

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My friends Chris made me sign up for a half marathon training group in the middle of winter and after that I had to do the race! But no worries, last January I got him back when I told him we were doing the FULL! hehe

Hoping to run 8km after work today, nice day after a few colder ones so I am taking advantage!

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My sister inspired me to sign up for my first half marathon. I have NEVER been a runner and I really thought it was impossible. I remember the first time I ran 6.5 miles and when I was finished all I could think about was how the half marathon would be TWICE that and it seemed out of the question! But, after sticking to a very strict training plan, I began to feel more and more comfortable and my obsession began. I started reading Runner’s World and Ultramarathon Man and Born to Run and before you know it I was signing up for my first marathon, Philly, this fall! Beyond that, I’m plannign some ultras for next spring! I can’t seem to get enough!

Today’s workout: 8 miles

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My very first race was a 5K. My hometown used to do a pretty big deal 10mi road race on Labor Day (Kenyans and everything) and there was always a 5K at the same time. My parents would sign up and walk the 5K, and after I graduated from college and moved back home, I thought, if they can walk 5K, I can certainly run it! So I signed up. I did it two years in a row, my time was around 29-31 minutes, and that was it. For the next few years, I would go running off an on, just for fitness. Then, a few years later, my best friend, a marathoner (now ultramarathoner), kept trying to get me to do races. Somehow she convinced me to sign up for a half marathon. (On my own – she lived in another state.) Even though I had never run more than 3.1 miles at once. So I signed up, trained (sort of), finished my first half, and have had the running bug ever since.

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My sister made me sign up for my first 1/2. I beat her.

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My first race I signed up for was the NYC Marathon. I did it with Team for Kids and it was the most amazing experience!! They had us run a few tune-up races first so the marathon wasn’t technically the first thing I raced though…Still obsessed with marathons! It’s the best distance!

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I signed up for my first 10 km last year because I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone. I trained over the summer to get in shape and get faster and I ended up running the 10 km in exactly 1 hour, 1 minute and 1 second <– pretty awesome hey? :)

This summer I was a bit busy planning my & Ty's wedding so I let running become just a thing for fun instead of training, but next year I plan on completing at least two races.

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My first race was the wasatch back Ragnar last year cuz my friend asked if I’d be on their team. I’ve always loved to run but had never done a race before…I didn’t think I’d like them. But I freakin LOVED Ragnar! So then I was hooked and did a 10k, and then figured I’d try a 1/2 marathon. Doing a marathon has always been a goal of mine, but I never wanted to officially set it as a goal in case I never did it…so I figured if I started with a half, I’d see from there. I seriously loved the 1/2 and am now doing my 3rd in 3 weeks!

Now I think I can totally see a marathon as doable…although I’m like you and the thought of DOUBLING my longest run makes me pee my pants! I am trying to decide which full marathon I want to sign up for-right now it’s in between SLC and Utah Valley. Do you recommend SLC? I can’t decide….but am so excited to take the leap and do it! I think if I register now it will give me plenty of time to get ready mentally and physically.

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My first race was through school growing up, so no one really convinced me to “sign up” for my first race. I’ve always loved running, so I guess I convinced myself to “sign up” in terms of joining the cross country team! However, once I got to college, while I still ran on a regular basis, I took a break from racing and just recently started getting back into the racing scene almost a year ago. I had just gone through a pretty rough break up, and decided I needed something to focus my energy on, so I signed up for a 5K mud run! I don’t know why I ever stopped racing! My competitive spirit and love for racing has definitely returned! I’ll be running my first half marathon next month. And I’m hoping to run my first marathon early next year!

My workout today is an easy run on my training schedule of 4 miles, and probably some yoga! Love your blog & hope you have a wonderful day!

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My first race was a 10K and I have NO IDEA why I signed up for it. I’m thinking it was because my ex boyfriend and I had just broken up and I needed something to do to take my mind off things so I just ran all.the.time. I jumped from the 10K to 13.1 and then progressed to 26.2 and this year has been a whole bunch of smaller races! I love all distances!

So far today I made my students do a 1-mile warm up outside on the track and I did it with them (they hated me) and then we did a 30 minute body weight exercise (at this point they wanted to rip my face off). Going to do some skipping tonight to top it off!

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I signed up for my first race, a 5K, when I was 13 because I had started running with my mom. My best friend & I “trained” for the race by running 2 and 3 milers for a few weeks, then we rocked the 5K. The best part is – the same friend just signed up for her first half marathon in October.

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I signed up for my first race (a 5k) b/c there was a woman outside a grocery store doing registration, and no one was coming by her table. I felt bad, and figured I could run 3 miles for a good cause. I was hooked after that!

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My workout today is a strength workout at home + some elliptical time at the gym.

I signed up for my first race (a 1/2 marathon) because my dad encouraged me. He has ran a few races (full and half marathons) and he thought it would be fun if we trained together. I have 3 sisters and we all have “our thing” with Dad and my thing is that we both run. The race itself was horrible (I peed on myself trying to pee in the woods and I had a huge blister explode and my shoe was literally soaked with blood), but it got me hooked!

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I first started getting my eating and running act together from reading blogs so when I saw everyone else doing races, I was determined! I’m super competitive (especially with myself) so as soon as I started the couch to 5K program I knew I needed a race at the end to have something to show for it all. Once that first race was over, the competitiveness kicked in and I needed to do more to beat my time or go further ;)

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I have no idea what my first race was. I think it was probably a 5k or a 5miler, but I don’t actually know. I’m definitely going to remember the marathon, though.

My workout today (so far) was running 7 miles to work. Now I’m trying to decide if I want to run home or bribe someone into driving me.

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My first ever race was a 5k last year… I was in college taking 20 credit hours (the max you are allowed taking… 13 is considered full time). I was also out of sports eligibility (it was my 5th year… last quarter before I graduated), and working 2 jobs, AND an internship and I was feeling stressed and crappy with no working out… so I decided to sign up for a race so it would become a priority to run again and workout and I started feeling TONS better (even tho i had no free time lol)… haven’t stopped running since besides the occasional month of wedding planning ;) lol

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I read an article about the NYC half and thought that running through Times Square would be amazing. So I entered the lottery (Was ony running 5ks at this point) and began to work my way up. Like 6 months later I found out I had been picked to run! So I trained and trained and the race was the most amazing thing I’ve ever expreienced. I IMMEDIATELY became consumed with the thought of running the NYC full and I will run it in November!

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I love talking about this. my FIRST race was my first half marathon in 2009 (the obx half!), and my best friend (whom I’ve never done a half marathon without since) convinced me to do it. I assured her there was no way I could run 13.1 miles.

aaaand now I’m adoring marathon training. :-D running creates monsters!

and THIS magnificence you asked for is mr. bulky’s: http://www.mrbulkytreats.com/

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I met a couple of girls at the gym I went to before work and we started running together. Than one morning one of the girls decided we should sign up for a race. Totally scared the crap out of me. But I signed up with them and did my first 10k.

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I signed up for my first half marathon (Vegas 2008 baby!) because a friend of mine pretty much begged me and 3 other friends and promised fun in sin city after we ran 13.1 miles. I can’t thank that friend enough because what began as a fun physical challenge has steamrolled into an all out obsession which will culminate when I run a marathon (with said friend) for the first time on October 9! I’m not sure more marathons are in the future for me but I really love the half distance and I’m already thinking of my next 13.1 distance challenge!

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My new years resolution was to run in 3 races this year, so I signed up for the seattle marathon, which is coming up in Nov. My 1st race of ever was a 10k a few weeks ago with a half marathon in 2 weeks and a 5k after that.

My workout was a 5mile tempo run today. :-)

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I ran the last five miles with my sister and her husband at the Top of Utah Marathon and afterward thought, hey, maybe I can do that too.

By the way, I think I figured out your secret…I know why Billy’s been running so much. He’s taking your spot at NY and going to run his first marathon. Am I right?

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Shoot, I don’t even know what my first race was… It was my goal to beat all the 6th grades in the mike when I was in 2nd grade. That’s the first time I remember running competitively… Which is basically racing. I thought I could so it and o wanted to prove it… I think that’s part of what’s kept me running… Proving myself to, well, myself… and I guess anyone else who cares. :)
My workout today was an easy 6… I’ve got the Ragnar tomorrow!!!

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There IS something completely monumental about completing 26.2 miles. It still floors me that you have only touched the surface of your running ability! Your running age is truly in the toddler stage which means you have like until your 45 to peak right?!! :)

My friend encouraged me to train for a marathon with her (my first race)…both of our firsts, so I did!

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thats so fun that you have your finish line video!

i signed up for my first race (a half) because my sister was sick during her first half and wanted to do another one with someone so I kicked my booty in to gear and trained for 3 months…before that I don’t think I had run more than 5 miles the whole semester before. then I got hooked and my love of running and pushing myself made me sign up for my first marathon (in april!)

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I signed up for my marathon because my husband said I should. I didn’t think I could do it but he believed in me, so I figured why not. We’ll see in December if that was the right move.

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Aww I love thinking about when I fell in love with running {and the marathon}. I always ran on the treadmill for exercise but was scared of actual running outside. After I graduated from college, my friends and I signed up for a 5 mile race…after I crossed that finish line I got runners high. And then signed up for 13.1…and then of course the big 26.2! Currently training for my second full marathon wooooooop :)

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Sooo I ran my first 5k in April. Finished in 31:52. Felt like a beast. A few of my guy friends are running the Glass City Half April 22nd. and Boom I signed up. Im scared to death(never have ran that far EVER in my life) and now freak out every.day.of.my.life if I can do it or not.
Todays workout is gonna be 10 minute total body workout and possibly abs. Have ran the past 5 days and just NOT feeling it today :/

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I ran my first 1/2 marathon as part of a bachelorette party!! We did the Country Music 1/2 in Nashville and we had so much fun! The most I had ever run prior to that was about 8 miles, but I loved every minute of it and was hooked after that. My first full was something that I had always wanted to do, so I just picked a race, signed up and did it!

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I wanted something to work towards I kept seeing all these people jogging down the street and I wanted to be like them. I hated running but knew that perhaps eventually I, like them, would at some point fall in love /w running. I signed up for my first 5k MONTHS in advance (still have another 4.5 weeks till the day) so I could slowly build up both my relationship /w running and my millage. Now I love running so much I have contemplated doing some other races prior to what would’ve been my first one….but you know I WANT the scotiabank waterfront to be my first :) Apparently it’s gonna be huge and this year as I watch the marathoners finish I could be witnessing history in the making!!! – it’s the course where the FASTEST marathon on Canadian soil was run and this year some elite athlete dude from MY town plans to BEAT IT!!! – I’ll have to get his name :) YAY!!

workout- 2.75 mile run and some body workout I found on runner’s world ;D

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oh meg! i just love her! we were suppose to meet this past weekend but too much came up. Sad, but I did get to chat on the phone with her. I was channeling my inner janae too and wishing we could all be together.
<3

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Loved reading your story! I don’t think I ever knew what set you off running. Definitely easy to take things overboard when you fall in love though. I have to constantly check in with myself.

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I’m not going to lie, I CAN’T WAIT to do a marathon! I think I’m going to run my first one sometime this spring :)

My first race that I had to sign up for was a half marathon! I was transferring to a new school and at my old college I’d been on the xc/track team…but my new school was division I and too fast for me so I couldn’t continue. But I wanted a goal to train for still! And so began the half marathons. I’ve done 5 since!

My workout today = 5 mile run ( yay I can finally run!) and some iron-pumping :-D

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Loved reading how you started! You are such an inspiration.

My first race was a half marathon and I signed up b/c I felt like I wanted to run a race, but wasn’t fast enough for shorter distances. I figured I was stubborn…I could run as far as necessary ;) And I did.

Today’s workout: 4 easy mile + 30min chest/tricep strength training. Long run tomorrow…woohoo!

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I began volunteering for the American Cancer Society and providing event support at endurance events – I was so inspired by the runners raising money to fight cancer and I got sick of telling everyone that “no, I wasn’t training for anything,” that I bit the bullet and ran the Brooklyn half marathon in 2010 and haven’t stopped running since! :)

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When I started running, it was to take place of smoking, so at first it was just a substitute but then when I got up to running 3 miles, I really wanted to do a 5k, ergo I signed up for my first 5k 2 years ago!

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I signed up for my first 5k so I would be motivated to run as a stress reliever in law school. I wanted a goal to look forward to after my final exams one semester, so I did the 5k about a week after my exams finished. I’ve done a lot more since then, have done a couple of 10ks, and I’ll be running my first half-marathon in March!

Today’s workout was a 3.2 mile run!

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What a great reason to start racing!! Great workout yesterday and I am stoked for your first 1/2 in MARCH…you better let me know how it goes!

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My first race was the Layton Half last October. I ran it because a bunch of other ladies/moms in my neighborhood were running races, so of course I needed to do it to… and better ;). I was already running long runs up to 12 miles, so it just made sense.

My workout was an hour long BodyPump class… and deep cleaning my house. Now my gluteus is a-hurtin’.

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Well, now that I can leave comments I might just become the crazy comment lady! Anyhoo, the first race I ever signed up for was a 5K and it was totally spontaneous and I was only mildly prepared. In Jan. of this year I signed up for a Half and I was totally scared. A friend of mine suggested it but a few months into training I found out I was the only one training:) Oh well. I kept it up and was so ready and then…….knee surgery:( nothing major, just some damaged cartilage from about 10 years ago that had been slowly calcifying into the size of a penny. It would get in the way of my knee unbending and every once in while it would lock up and not unbend and I thought I was going to die from the pain but the pain would subside and I would keep going. But the half traing aggrevated it too much and I thought it was time I get it fixed lest I biff it on the treadmill (which I did). This was all going on while you were dealing with your double fractures. There were so many times I wanted to comment and say thanks for all the inspiration while I was healing…with you;) I missed my Half but I’m all healed up and ready to find the next race, and trying not be discouraged that I am starting all over as a beginning runner. No weight at all on my knee for six weeks turned me into a mush ball:D Okay and I promise future comments won’t be a novel long!

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I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS! Knee surgery…BOOO!!! Oh girl, I am happy that I was able to help during that TOUGH TIME and I am sorry you missed your half but I am SO happy that you are healed and ready to find another race! What ones are you thinking about doing? I LOVE your novel comments, seriously!

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I signed up for my first race because I was enamoured with NYC at the time, because my dad was a runner my whole life growing up, because I was overweight and it was a reason to run, and because I could. It was a 4 mile run in Central Park, and I laugh when I see the pictures from that day.
Then I didn’t run much until I went to spectate at IMCdA, where I said, “What the heck am I doing only running 3 miles a day?!” I ran my first HM 3 months later, my first marathon the next spring, and just last weekend, completed my first 70.3 triathlon!

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My first race was the Avenue of the Giants Marathon. I’d never done any sort of race before but running a marathon was one of the things on my bucket list so I thought I would cross it off. I’ve been hooked on running ever since :)

Today’s workout = speedwork! and an hour of weights. Felt great!

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THAT IS SO COOL THAT A MARATHON was your first race ever! Speedwork and weights…girl, you are incredible!

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my first race was a 5k that i signed up for to get me running. i had come home from college for christmas and my dearest friend (also the person i wanted be just like!) had a serious GLOW about her. and i asked her what was going on, and she said she’d stepped up her running. so great, there we go!

so in march-ish i signed up for an october 5k, in downtown chicago (about three hours from cornville-u where i was at school), and recruited a few friends with promises of ‘the big city’ and ‘deep dish pizza’. it was great! i had a super-terrible time, but i ended up getting completely addicted to the feeling of having accomplished something so insane. now i’m 6 half-marathons down, and am wondering if i can ever make a full happen. who knows!

workout today was yoga class at work…how crazy is that?! my new job has a yoga class?!?!

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JANAEEEEEEEE. Ugh. I freaking love you. For realsies. Don’t worry that it’s 4AM and I’m WIDE awake. I was reading blog posts on my phone, cause that is all I ever seem to have time to do these days…and I read yours (as per usual) and couldn’t freaking comment. I had to get on my comp to comment, and tell you I miss you SO MUCH. Seriously. I have Roxanne’s wedding tomorrow, but I MUST see you on Saturday! K? I love you to pieces. You are so motivating girl, and I want to be you when I grow up. K? The end.
Don’t even ask why I’m awake? Insomnia anyone?
xoxoxo Megs

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Your finish line video isn’t working! Was excited to watch it :(

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AHHH I am so sorry…I will fix it!

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My boss used to be an elite runner in NY and talks about running all the time. Add that with two of my friends running the Portland Marathon last year and I just jumped on the band-wagon. I hate feeling left out! Now, I’m training for the Portland Marathon and I love this running world :-)

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I am SO happy you are loving the running world and you are going to ROCK the portland marathon!

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My first race was a 5k – I had quit smoking one year prior and wanted to start running more. That was 6 years ago THIS MONTH! :) My workout today was an “urban 4 miler.” It sooo dark here at 5:30am, I run down the busiest streets in town – safer?? Safer. Have a great weekend, Miss HRG!

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My first race was a sprint tri a couple of years ago. My husband is a swimmer and had done a tri as part of a team and came home raving about it begging me to sign up for one along side him the next year. I was 3 weeks post baby #7, so anything too physical sounded awful at that moment, so I told him he was ridiculous and asked why anyone would want to do any of those things, especially all three together. Ok-the biking I was fine with, but I’m not a swimmer and I was one of those anti-running people.
Not one to be outdone by my husband though (all marriages need healthy competition, right?), I finally relented and signed up. I ended up doing a couple of tris that summer, found out that not only did I enjoy the running part but that I was a fairly strong runner (still so NOT a swimmer), and got sucked into running totally and completely, signing up for every race that the budget allowed.
Even with all that going on, I never followed any sort of training plan, it never even crossed my mind! lol Next up, St George in 2 weeks-we’ll see if following a real plan works out for me. :) Can’t wait!

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I LOVE IT!! That is awesome. 3 weeks post baby NUMBER SEVEN!!! You are my hero. Ha, billy and I love COMPETITION:) I love that you were sucked into running and girl you are going to ROCK St. George!

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My plan is to rock St George. ;) Hopefully things go according to plan!
We added baby #8 last year-running through pregnancy was the best thing ever! Both physically and mentally. And 3wks after that baby, I was back out pounding the pavement. Niki (Martins) did my maternity and family photos last year-so glad she pointed me in the direction of your blog!

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I’ve always played organized sports, even through college, so when I finished my 4 years of eligibility for basketball in college I needed something to keep me motivated to workout… running it was! I was extremely intrigued by running races, but put it off for the first year I ran (which wasn’t a whole lot of mileage). Then I decided it’s time and I signed up for a half marathon (the first race I ever signed up for!)! Although it was the first race I signed up for, it wasn’t the first race I ran, because after signing up for my half I decided I should try a shorter distance first so I know what the atmosphere it like. So my first race to run was actually a 5K, but my first race to sign up for was a half marathon :)

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